Coach was a little unsure about predicting a better finish for the team
during pre-season drills. He had three starters coming back (Sanders,
Gannon and Steinbock). He thought about playing more of a ball control
offense - but in the end stuck with the go-go offense. However the team did
employ zone defenses and did not , in general, have a high powered scoring
attack. Sanders and Gannon were the only real consistent outside shooters.

Sanders had a jump shot that was so good that he even used it to shoot free
throws. He used to line up 2 feet behind the foul line and fire the jump shot
and had much better results over the conventional manner of foul shooting.
Coach Bueltel sometimes had to remind Sanders to shoot the ball from
"anywhere" on the court and then would ask I.C. , "When do you
shoot?" Sanders would correctly answer "Anytime." (Curt Mosher
TDC 1-31-2005) Jerry Gannon became the first Hayden player ever to score 30
points in the 1/6/59 Ottawa game breaking a record held by Tom Ortiz (29 in
1957).

Another
highlight of the season was the 2nd place finish in the Highland Park
tournament. The Wildcats lost to Osage City due to the outstanding play of Gary
Marriot who was one of the greatest scorers in Kansas High School basketball
history. He scored 30 against Hayden in the championship and averaged well over
20 points a game during this season.

Hayden did
defeat Topeka High in the 3rd Place AA Regional game. THS Coach Dean
benched his starters for much of that game and the Trojans were still down from
being upset by Lawrence. Future D-1 players Fred Slaughter and Jim Dumas played
on that team. Slaughter was famous for his 2 handed stuff which was kind of rare
for a high school player during this era. This was the first win ever over
Topeka High in basketball. Atchison won the AA Regional played at Lawrence
High.